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New Orleans Pelicans preseason sharpshooting could be sustainable: notebook

Ryan Anderson: Pelicans vs Heat preseason

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) defends as New Orleans Pelicans power forward Ryan Anderson (33) defends the ball during the first half a preseason game at the New Orleans Arena Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

During
the preseason, the New Orleans Pelicans were one of the NBA's best perimeter
shooting teams, making 44.8 percent of their 3-pointers.

Coach
Monty Williams doesn't expect those numbers to drop when the Pelicans open the
regular season at home on Wednesday when the Pelicans host the Indiana Pacers.

"I
think it is (sustainable)," Williams said of the 3-point shooting. "That's who
we are. We have guys that can shoot the ball. The thing that we have be careful
of is when we shoot the ball in random offense and we start making shots early
like we did in the Miami game and kinda to forget to get back to the nuts and
bolts of your offense and setting screens and making hard cuts.

"But
our guys can shoot. So we don't want to deny that. But at the same time we'd
much rather get easy transition baskets and play from the inside out."

Unlike
last season when the bulk of the 3-point shooting was handled by Ryan Anderson,
who made 213 threes, and former New Orleans guard Roger Mason, the Pelicans now
have a handful of capable shooters.

Five
different Pelicans made at least 10 3-pointers in the regular season. Free
agent signee Anthony Morrow led the way, making 14 of 27 threes, followed by
Anderson (12 of 36), Brian Roberts (11 of 19), Eric Gordon (10 of 19) and Jrue
Holiday (10 of 21).

Morrow,
who ranks fifth among the NBA's active career 3-point percentage shooters,
agreed with Williams and said the Pelicans hot shooting should carry over in
the regular season. Morrow said the Pelicans shooters are helped his teammates'
ability to penetrate and draw defenses away from the jump shooters.

"I
credit that to the guys that we have that can penetrate," Morrow said. "All of
our guys that can penetrate are unselfish. We have Jrue, Tyreke, Eric who can
do both, B-Rob. We got so many guys that can get in the paint and make plays
for other people, it makes it easier for myself and Ryan."

The 44.8
percent 3-point shooting in the preseason is the same rate New Orleans shot on
all of its field goal attempts (both 2-pointers and 3-pointers) last season.
And it's better than the 40.3 percent 3-point rate the Golden State Warriors
had to lead the NBA last year.

While
Morrow didn't say the Pelicans are the best shooting team in the NBA, he did
say it's one of the best he's ever been associated with.

"It's
one of them," Morrow said. "I was on some good shooting teams in Golden State.
But this is definitely one of them with how Mr. (Dell) Demps and the staff put
the team together. We have a good nucleus of guys right now."

The
plan was to bring Gordon, who had to work himself back into playing shape after
offseason ankle surgery, along slowly in the preseason. But Williams said
Gordon would not have any restrictions in the regular season.

"He
has no restrictions," Williams said. "He looked good in camp. I limited his
minutes in the preseason with the sole purpose of having him ready for now so
he can play."

'OK TO GO': Williams also said guard
Tyreke Evans, who was limited to just 26 minutes in the preseason because of a
sprained left ankle suffered in the preseason opener against the Houston
Rockets, wouldn't be limited.

After
spraining his ankle, Evans missed six straight games before returning in the
preseason finale against the Orlando Magic on Friday.

"He's
OK to go," Williams said. "He's had good practices. He hadn't shown any
residual effects to the ankle. He looks likes he's ready to go."

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Although all signs
appear to be pointing to Jason Smith starting at center in the season opener,
Williams said on Tuesday he wasn't ready to reveal the starter.

Greg
Stiemsma started the first seven games at center but was mostly ineffective,
averaging just 1.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile,
Smith started the last preseason game at center and also worked with the
starters during Saturday's scrimmage. In six preseason games, Smith averaged
5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds.